Vault.



N0. 70!,688. Patented June 3, I902.

J. W. DONNELL.

V A U L T.

lication filed Se t (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES IV. DONNELL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HALLS SAFE & LOCK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VAULT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,688, dated June 3, 1902.

Application filed September 9,1901. Serial No. 74,825. (No model.)

To aZZ whom 212? may concern.- E. This post is hollow, and its outer faces Be it known that I, JAMES \V. DONNELL, a are by preference continuous (unbroken) citizen of the United States,residing at Evansthroughout and at right angles to each other. ton, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- It has also two faces, each of which is com- 5 5 nois, have invented certain new and useful plementary to the side of one of the rails en- Improvements in Vaults, of which the followtering into the construction of the vaulting is a specification. that is to say, it has a surface 6, adapted to The present invention relates exclusively fit against the side of the Web of the rail, a to that class of vaults in which flanged rails surface e, adapted to fit against the head of 6o, [0 or beams (hereinafter called rails for the therail, anda surface 6, adapted to fitagainst sake of brevity) are used in the construction the base of the rail. The tie-rods B pass of the walls. through those sides of the posts E that con- One of its objects is to provide an improved tact with the end rails, and the nuts C are corner-post through the medium of which the cated within the posts, the latter being pro- :5 end rails of each series going to make up each vided with openings E of sufficient size to wall of the vault are united. admit a Wrench for turning the nuts. In ad- Another of its objects is to provide imdition to this means for uniting the posts proved means for keying together the several and end rails screws F are passed through rails going to make up each wall, so that no openings in the webs of the end rails and into 20 one of said rails can be forced outward latthe posts.

erally independently of those adjacent to it. Another feature of the invention resides in In the accompanying drawings, which are the keys G, by which the rails are keyed tomade a part of this specification, Figure 1 is gether, so that no one of them can be disa horizontal section of one corner of a vault placed outward laterally without displacing 25 embodying the invention, the section being the others adjacent thereto. Each of those taken in different horizontal planes.- Fig. 2 keys in the preferred form of the invention is a perspective view of a portion of one of is of substantially T shape-that is to say, it the walls viewed from the interior, the inner has a head g, which is adapted to engage the steel lining being omitted. Fig. 3 is an eleunder sides of the heads of two adjacent rails, o vation of a portion of one of the corner-posts. and a shank g, which passes'inward between Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the the said heads and engages a bar H, which keys. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing bears against the heads of the rails and by the use of I-beams instead of so-called T-rails. which the key is supported, the bar being in The side walls of a vault of the class in turn supported by screws h, passing through 35 question are preferably made up principally it and into the rails. The purpose of those of a number of T-rails A, stood on end and keys is to key all of the rails together, so that placed with their bases outward and in conno one of them can be displaced laterally outtact with each other and suitable means for ward independently of the others, and this securing them together. It is in this securpurpose is best accomplished by making the 4o ing means that the present invention resides. heads of the keys complementary to the ad- As shown in the drawings, the webs of the jacent faces of the webs, bases, and heads of rails are perforated, and through these pertwo adjacent rails, and it is further subserved forations pass rods 13, threaded at their ends by providing the shank of each key with an to receive tightening-nuts C, spacing-sleeves overhanging tongue or hook g, which en'- 5 45 D being slipped onto the rods between each gages the bar H, through-the medium of which rail and the next in order to hold them in it bears upon the tops of the heads of two adproper positioni. a, with their bases in conjacent rails, so that the bar not only supports tact and their webs parallel. This is an old the key, but by its contact with the heads of and familiar construction. the rails also serves to prevent it from mov- 50 One feature of the present invention resides ing outward. One or more of these keys is in the corner-posts, one of which is shown at interposed between each rail and the next.

' displacing those adjacent to it.

bears against the tops of said heads either immediately or through the interposition of another part, such as the bar H, will key the rails together within the spirit of this invention. It is also manifestthat even without the shank if the head of the key be made complementary to the bases, webs, and under sides of the heads of the rails, or if not complementary then of such shape that it will engage these parts of the rails it will key the rails one to another and prevent any one of them from being displaced laterally without It is also manifest that I-beams substituted for the so-called T-rails of the conventional crosssection usually employed for railways would answer the purpose and might be keyed together by keys interposed between them, as

shown in Fig. 5. I desire to have it understood, therefore, that my invention is not limited to a key of the precise form shown in the drawings, although that form is preferred, but comprehends a key of any form interposed between the flanged rails of a vault and serving to key said rails together in the manner and for the purpose described.

In Fig. 5 the key is of approximately I shape rather than T shape. One of its heads engages the bases, webs, and under sides of the heads of the rails, while its other head engages the crowns of the heads of the rails, thus dispensing with the bar H. The heads of the rails may be notched, as indicated, to receive the shanks of the keys.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a Vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls, corner-posts having faces contacting with the bases, webs, and heads of the end rails of the two series of rails entering into the construction of contiguous walls, and means for securing said rails and posts together, substantially as described.

2. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls, corner-posts engaging the end rails of the two series of rails entering into the construction of contiguous walls, tie-rods passing through said rails and through openings in the post, and nuts turned onto the tie-rods, substantially as described.

3. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls, hollow corner-posts engaging the end rails of the two series of rails entering into the construction of contiguous walls, tie-rods passing through said rails and the adjacent walls of the posts, and nuts within the posts, turned onto said tie-rods, substantially as described.

4. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls, hollow corner-posts engaging the end rails of the two series of rails entering into the construction of contiguous walls, tie-rods passing through said rails and the adjacent walls of the posts, and nuts, within the posts, turned onto said rods, the posts being provided opposite the nuts, with openings for the admission of a wrench, substantially as described.

5. In a vault, the combination of flanged I rails entering into the construction of the walls, hollow corner-posts having faces complementary to the faces of the end rails of the two series of rails entering into the construction of contiguous walls, tie-rods passing through said rails and the adjacent walls of the posts and nuts, wi thin the posts, turned onto said rods, substantially as described.

6. A hollow post for use in Vault construction having two faces each complementary to one side of the base, web and head of a flanged rail, substantially as described.

7. A hollow post for use in vault construction having two faces each complementary to the side of a flanged rail, and having, through said faces, openings for the passage of fastenone and the head of the next adjacent rail,

substantially as described.

9. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of a wall, and keys disposed between said rails, each key engaging the upper sides of the bases and the under sides of the heads of two adjacent rails, substantially as described.

10. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of a wall, and keys disposed between said rails, each of said keys having parts engaging the under sides of the heads of two adjacent rails, and means through which said keys bear upon the tops of the heads of said rails, substantially as described.

11. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of a wall, and keys disposed between said rails, each of said keys filling the space between the bases, webs and heads of two adjacent rails, substantially as described.

12. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails arranged side by side and entering into the construction of awall, and means engaging adjacent rails for bracing each rail against lateral movement either inward or outward relatively to the next rail, said bracing means vetoes having engagement with both the top and the under sides of the heads of adjacent rails, substantially as described.

13. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails arranged side by side and entering into the construction of a Wall, and means for bracing each rail against lateral movement either inward or outward relatively to the next rail, said bracing means having keys disposed between said rails, each of said keys having contact with the upper side of the base of one rail and the under side of the head of the next adjacent rail, substantially as described.

14. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls, and keys disposed between said rails and having parts engaging the upper sides of the bases and the under sides of the heads of adjacent rails, and means through which said keys bear upon the tops of the heads of said rails, substantially as described.

15. In a vault, the combination ofi'langed rails entering into the construction of the walls, and keys disposed between said rails and engaging the under sides of the heads of adjacent rails, said keys having shanks extending between the heads of said adjacent rails, and means through which said shanks bear upon the tops of the heads of said rails, substantially as described.

16. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails entering into the construction of the walls and arranged base to base, and keys disposed between said rails and having parts engaging the under sides of the heads of adjacent rails, shanks extending between the heads of adjacent rails, and means through which the shanks bear upon the tops of the heads of said rails, substantially as set forth.

17. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails arranged base to base, entering into the construction of the walls, and keys disposed between said rails and having parts engaging the under sides of the heads of adjacent rails, shanks extending between the heads of said adjacent rails and means engaging the shanks and bearing upon the tops of the rails, substantially as described.

18. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails, entering into the construction of the walls and keys disposed between said rails and engaging the under sides of the heads of said rails, said keys having heads complementary to the bases, webs and heads of the rails and shanks extending between said heads, and means through which said shanks bear upon the tops of the heads of said rails, substantially as described.

19. In a vault, the combination of flanged rails, entering into the construction of the Walls, and keys disposed between said rails and engaging them, said keys having shanks extending between said heads, hooks on said shanks, and bars supported by the rails and engaged by said hooks, whereby the keys are supported substantially as set forth.

JAMES W'. DONNELL.

Witnesses:

A. L. DEANE, L. M. HOPKINS. 

